HOOVER AND THE NAVY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 733, 5 August 1929, Page 9

HOOVER AND THE NAVY

SENATOR CHALLENGES HIS ACTION SUSPENSION OF BUILDING (Australian and A'.Z. Press Association) WASHINGTON, Saturday. Senator C. A. Swanson (Democrat, Virginia), has issued a statement in which he says President Hoover proceeded contrary to law in suspending the construction of three cruisers. He asserts that Congress gave a plain mandate for the construction of those vessels and that the President was given no discretion to suspend the expenditure of the money available for the purpose. Senator Swanson warns President Hoover that there is too much disrespect for the law in America, and that as the President has appointed a committee to study that subject it behoves him to obey the law himself. The Virginian senator says he does not think the President’s action will aid in obtaining another agreement with Britain for further limitations of naval armaments. On the contrary, he is of the opinion that it will delay negotiations and involve a continuation of the status which he maintains has been accorded to Britain’s navy, namely, an overwhelming superiority over that of the "United States. Equality between the two navies bymeans of reductions instead of increases is essential, says Mr. Swanson, to the peace of the world. BRITISH BATTLESHIPS FOUR TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM MALTA MORE HOME SERVICE (Australian and W.Z. Press Association) LONDON, Sunday. It is reported front Malta that the British battleships Queen Elizabeth, Barham, Valiant and Malaya are to be withdrawn from the Mediterranean Fleet in order to give the men more home service and to relieve the con gestion in Malta Harbour. The naval correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph’’ regards the change as momentous. He expresses the opinion that it is not unconnected with the naval conversations between Britain and the United States. The withdrawal of the four battlehips will be a blow to Malta. The Admiralty confirms the news, t says the four battleships are to be ransferred for the reasons stated. The battleship Queen Elizabeth will probably return to the Mediterranean as flagship of the fleet, on completion of her refit in 1930. The Warspite is joining the Atlantic Fleet.